Flogging

Flogging is a form of impact play in which one partner strikes another using a flogger, a handle with multiple leather or synthetic tails known as falls. It is a longstanding part of leather and BDSM culture, which took shape as a gay subculture in US cities from the late 1940s onward. Depending on the material, weight, and technique, a flogger can deliver anything from a light, teasing drag across the skin to a sharp "stingy" bite or a deeper "thuddy" impact. Practitioners aim for fleshy areas like the upper back, buttocks, and thighs while avoiding the kidneys, spine, and tailbone. Like all BDSM, it depends on prior negotiation, ongoing consent, and communication.